SWINDON has the second highest ethnic minority population in the South West, according to new figures released by Swindon Council.

The latest breakdown of the 2001 census reveals that 4.8 per cent of Swindonians consider themselves non-white.

Asians of Indian descent are the biggest group numbering 2,283 of the borough's 180,051 population.

Other ethnic minority groups in Swindon include Pakistanis 649 and Bangladeshi 492.

Those designating themselves as black or black British number 1,268.

Swindon also has 2,308 residents who list themselves as Irish and 784 Chinese.

Further details of the 2001 census are available on the internet.

www.statistics.gov.uk